For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
رام کا ارتھ نہ جانا ۔ ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
کام، کرودھ اور لوبھ کا مارا جگت نہ آیا راس
جب جب رام نے جنم لیا تب تب پایا بن باس
۲
کلجگ تک چلتی آئی ہے ست جُگ کی یہ ریت
سب کچھ ہار چکے جب اپنا تب ہے رام کی جیت
جگ بدلے پر بدل نہ پایا اب تک یہ اتہاس
۳
چھوڑ کے اپنے محل دو محلے جنگل جنگل پھرنا
اوروں کے سکھ چین کی خاطر دُکھ سنکٹ میں گھرنا
ہے یہی رام کی لیکھ کی ریکھا، آگیا اب وِشواس
۴
رام ہر اِک جُگ میں آئے پر کون اُنہیں پہچانا
رام کی پوجا کی جگ نے پر رام کا ارتھ نہ جانا
تکتے تکتے بوڑھے ہو گئے دھرتی اور آکاس
राम का अर्थ न जाना – साहर लुधियानवी
१
काम, क्रोध और लोभ का मारा जगत न आया रास
जब जब राम ने जनम लिया, तब तब पाया बन-बास
२
कलजुग तक चलती आई है सत-जुग की ये रीत
सब कुछ हार चुके जब अपना तब है राम की जीत
जुग बदले पर बदल न पाया अब तक ये इतिहास
३
छोढ के अपना महल दो-महले जंगल जंगल फिरना
औरौं के सुख चैन कि ख़ातर दुख संकट में घिर्ना
है यही राम की लेख कि रेखा, आ गया अब विश्वास
४
राम हर एक जुग में आए, पर कौन उन्हें पहचाना
राम की पूजा की जग ने पर राम का अर्थ न जाना
तक्ते तक्ते बूढे हो गये धर्ती और आकास
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. sahir has often crossed communal and religious lines to embrace all cultures and use metaphors from different religious traditions. Here he uses raam as a symbol of self-sacrifice and giving.
1
kaam1, krodh2 aur lobh3 ki maara jagat4 na aaya raas5
jab jab raam ne janm liya, tab tab paaya ban-baas6 1.lust 2.anger 3.greed 4.world 5.suitable, compatible 6.exile/banishment to the jungle
This world of lust, anger and greed was never compatible with the nature of raam. Whenever he took birth, he ended up being banished/exiled.
2
kaljug1 tak chalti aaii hai sat-jug2 ki ye riit3
sub kuchh haar chuke jab apna tab hai raam ki jiit
jug4 badle par badal na paaya ab tak ye itihaas5 1.age of evil, present age 2.age of truth/justice 3.tradition, precept 4.ages, era 5.history
From the ancient age of truth/justice to the present times of evil, this precept has continued. Only if you give up everything (kaam, krodh aur lobh – lust, anger and greed) is there victory for raam (symbol of truth and justice). Ages have rolled over, but history has not changed.
3
chhoR ke apna mahal do-mahle jaNgal jaNgal phirna
auroN ke sukh1 chayn2 ki Khaatir3 dukh4 saNkaT5 meN ghirna
hai yahi raam ki lekh6 ki rekha7, aa gaya ab vishvaas8 1.happiness 2.comfort 3.for the sake of 4.sorrow 5.difficulties 6.written (fate) 7.line, entry 8.belief, confidence
Leaving the comfort of palaces, wandering in the jungle for the sake of the comfort and happiness of others, bearing sorrow and difficulty. This is written in the fate of raam (anyone who stands up for justice), this I have come to believe.
4
raam har ek jug meN aaye, par kaun unheN pahchaana
raam ki pooja ki jag ne par raam ka arth na jaana
takte takte booRhe ho gaye dharti aur aakaas
1.age, era 2.knew, recognized 3.devotion, pray 4.(true) meaning 5.stare, look 6.earth 7.sky
raam has come in every age (in every age people have stood up for justice), but who has recognized him. The world offers prayers to him but do they understand the real meaning of raam. The earth and the sky have looked at this for ever and gotten ancient, but they still don’t understand.
sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. sahir has often crossed communal and religious lines to embrace all cultures and use metaphors from different religious traditions. Here he uses raam as a symbol of self-sacrifice and giving.
1
kaam1, krodh2 aur lobh3 ki maara jagat4 na aaya raas5
jab jab raam ne janm liya, tab tab paaya ban-baas6
1.lust 2.anger 3.greed 4.world 5.suitable, compatible 6.exile/banishment to the jungle
This world of lust, anger and greed was never compatible with the nature of raam. Whenever he took birth, he ended up being banished/exiled.
2
kaljug1 tak chalti aaii hai sat-jug2 ki ye riit3
sub kuchh haar chuke jab apna tab hai raam ki jiit
jug4 badle par badal na paaya ab tak ye itihaas5
1.age of evil, present age 2.age of truth/justice 3.tradition, precept 4.ages, era 5.history
From the ancient age of truth/justice to the present times of evil, this precept has continued. Only if you give up everything (kaam, krodh aur lobh – lust, anger and greed) is there victory for raam (symbol of truth and justice). Ages have rolled over, but history has not changed.
3
chhoR ke apna mahal do-mahle jaNgal jaNgal phirna
auroN ke sukh1 chayn2 ki Khaatir3 dukh4 saNkaT5 meN ghirna
hai yahi raam ki lekh6 ki rekha7, aa gaya ab vishvaas8
1.happiness 2.comfort 3.for the sake of 4.sorrow 5.difficulties 6.written (fate) 7.line, entry 8.belief, confidence
Leaving the comfort of palaces, wandering in the jungle for the sake of the comfort and happiness of others, bearing sorrow and difficulty. This is written in the fate of raam (anyone who stands up for justice), this I have come to believe.
4
raam har ek jug meN aaye, par kaun unheN pahchaana
raam ki pooja ki jag ne par raam ka arth na jaana
takte takte booRhe ho gaye dharti aur aakaas
1.age, era 2.knew, recognized 3.devotion, pray 4.(true) meaning 5.stare, look 6.earth 7.sky
raam has come in every age (in every age people have stood up for justice), but who has recognized him. The world offers prayers to him but do they understand the real meaning of raam. The earth and the sky have looked at this for ever and gotten ancient, but they still don’t understand.
